Nintendo plans new portable games console

Nintendo is set to launch a new portable mobile phone-sized games console in Europe later this year.

Nintendo is set to launch a new portable mobile phone-sized games console in Europe later this year.

The Game Boy Micro, which the company claims is the world's smallest console, is due to hit European stores on November 4, and is expected to retail at €99 euros. The new console is a bid to attract women and casual gamers.

Nintendo's European marketing director Jim Merrick declined to give any sales targets for the Game Boy Micro, saying Nintendo did not yet know whether buyers of its current consoles would switch to the Micro, or whether the device would lure new customers.

"Will it be additive or will it be cannibalisation?" Merrick asked. "Certainly we're competing with ourselves but I believe because of the design it will open up new markets for us."

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Around 500,000 Micros are planned to be available for the European launch and will be able to play a library of up to 700 Game Boy games.